Our Fourth

I can hardly believe it has been 4 years since Ames and I got married and over 7 since we started dating. Looking back at where we’ve been and the things we’ve accomplished, it’s easy to see why the whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts. Individually, we couldn’t be more different. She’s an engineer and a scientist. If things went her way, every decision would be carefully calculated and faultlessly efficient. On the other hand, I’m a spontaneous artist who loves to create asymmetrical balance and appreciates all things unpredictable. You’d think this combination would be a disaster, but instead we balance out our eccentricities and rely heavily on each others individual strengths.

I think this picture from Halloween 2004 provides an appropriate caricature of what I’m talking about:

I know, we’re both pretty nerdy, but after all this time, I’m still helplessly in love and hopelessly dependent on my wife. As much as I may take her for granted at times, she’s the reason I am who I am and my source of confidence.

To continue the recent tradition of posting early memories of our relationship on our anniversary, I thought I’d post a poem that I wrote to Ames when we first started dating:(To be spoken in the tone and timber of Bob Ross for maximum effect.)

Stroll on a sandy, starry, Vero night.

Upon the gentle salt sea-breeze
floating through the mangrove trees
circling, swirling, through the night
passion, kisses, holding tight.
Sparkling innocence doth radiate
the glistening ripples tides create
a citrus moon gives perfect light
to feel the softness of her sight.
On earth is no place to rather be
than lost in love and mangrove trees.